By Hochberg H.R. No. 102 75R5145 PFG-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The citizens of Houston lost a respected journalist 1-2 and civic leader with the passing of Jerry J. Ribnick on November 1-3 23, 1996, at the age of 73; and 1-4 WHEREAS, While a young man, Mr. Ribnick interrupted his 1-5 studies at The University of Texas to answer his country's call to 1-6 arms in World War II, serving in Asia as a tail gunner/radio 1-7 operator and as a war correspondent; for his display of exceptional 1-8 valor under fire, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, 1-9 and the Distinguished Flying Cross, and he went on to write an 1-10 account of his experiences as a member of the 7th Bomber Group 1-11 during the war; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Returning to Texas, Mr. Ribnick covered high school 1-13 and college sports for the Houston Chronicle and garnered two 1-14 national awards for his writing, including the Associated 1-15 Press/Texas Sportswriter of the Year award in 1952; for more than 1-16 three decades, he and his wife of 43 years, Gloria, successfully 1-17 owned and operated Ribnick & Associates Advertising Agency; and 1-18 WHEREAS, This remarkable gentleman dedicated much of his life 1-19 to civic causes, serving as a board member of numerous worthy 1-20 organizations and completing an exemplary 20-year tenure as a 1-21 Harris County precinct judge; a staunch advocate for the elderly, 1-22 he did much to improve the lot of our state's older citizens as a 1-23 member of the Texas State Board on Aging and the Mayor's Conference 1-24 on Aging, and he also served as a participant in two White House 2-1 conferences on aging; and 2-2 WHEREAS, A prominent leader in B'nai B'rith, Mr. Ribnick was 2-3 the president of the Goldberg B'nai B'rith Towers board of 2-4 directors for the past 25 years and had received numerous awards 2-5 for his outstanding charity work; in addition, he was the founder 2-6 of many popular institutions designed to benefit the community, 2-7 including the annual Alfred's Charity Dinner, the Houston Jewish 2-8 Sports Hall of Fame, and the Softball Hall of Fame; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Mr. Ribnick was also a cherished member of the 2-10 Congregation Emanu El where his absence has been deeply felt; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Throughout his life, this admirable gentleman 2-12 exemplified the spirit of hard work, courage, and determination 2-13 that has made this country strong, and he set a standard of public 2-14 service and professional achievement that will continue to serve as 2-15 an inspiration to all those who were privileged to have known him; 2-16 now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-18 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Jerry J. Ribnick and 2-19 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his 2-20 beloved wife, Gloria Ribnick; to his son, Greg Ribnick; to his 2-21 daughter and son-in-law, Amelia and Eric Kleiman; to his 2-22 grandchildren, Selena Ribnick and Brett Kleiman; to his sister, 2-23 Rene Hanovich; to his brother, Frank Ribnick; to his 2-24 brother-in-law, Murray Frank; to his nieces and nephews; and to the 2-25 many other friends and relatives of this fine man; and, be it 2-26 further 2-27 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-1 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-2 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-3 Jerry J. Ribnick.